Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the action he will take on the mink problem in view of the potential damage that a further growth in population could cause; if he will consider introducing a bounty for mink; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27723/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Wild mink are not protected species under the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2010 and thus they can be controlled by landowners and their agents. Mink found in the wild in Ireland are descended from animals that escaped from fur farms. They have been breeding in the countryside since the 1950s and are now found throughout much of the country.

A report published by my Department in 2009 estimated the population of wild mink in the State could reach a total of between 20,500 and 33,500 individuals. The report identified ground nesting birds as the species most vulnerable to mink predation. Accordingly, my Department is concentrating its resources on protecting the nesting sites of rare and threatened bird species, including red-throated diver, corncrake, grey partridge, waders and terns, from a range of predators including mink. Experience has shown that targeted control of predators at specific times can have a significant benefit to the breeding success of these species. Last year, some €73,000 was spent on this work. At this time my Department is considering options for effective augmentation of the current levels of mink control.